Sermons from June 2018
The Church and the Plan
The Church & the Plan
Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14
The church will usually be a marginalized minority in the eyes of the world, but she is the precious and planned gathering together of God’s people. As God works his plan, some, such as Old Testament Israel, will be chosen to fill special and exclusive roles. That is the case of today’s church. No other group can fill the role that God has planned for and given to the church. To claim Christ, but opt out of the church, is to disregard God’s plan.
A Long Walk Home
A Long Walk Home
Scripture: John 4:46-54
We are saved by grace, but that does not remove the need for faithful action on our part. Jesus gives rest, but he gives it to those who “come to him.” Jesus healed a boy without even seeing him, but the father had first “come to Jesus,” and then made a long walk home without knowing for sure if what Jesus promised would happen. Only when he arrived home did he know for sure that the promise was fulfilled.
Living Better to Die Better
AM Sermon: Living Better to Die Better
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1-8
The process of dying can be more intimidating than the final event. How we live and how we prepare can make a lot of difference in how we experience that process. Getting old can bring burdens that Ecclesiastes calls “the evil days.” Loneliness as we die is one of the greatest fears, and is best addressed by taking good care of our relationships. Good living and good planning can give us precious opportunities to say a proper, “Good-bye.”
Scars
Scripture: John 20:24-29
Guest Speaker: Nathan Adams
Why Christians Live and Die
Scripture: Psalm 23
Men who suffered greatly, such as David and Paul, give us the most positive view of life and death. Life is a gift from God to be used to his glory for as long as he chooses to prolong it. Like birth, death is an ominous transition into the great unknown that we can approach with confidence since Jesus has shown the way.